December 7, 2016
Dear Eastridge Family,
I asked the question Sunday, “Are you ready for Christmas?” For most people the Christmas season is a
time of celebration and joy. Students
get a break from school, many get some extra time off from work and many will
have plans to get together with friends and family.
Unfortunately, the holiday season is also a reminder of the
cruelty of life. Tens of thousands of
homeless Americans will spend Christmas alone. Many impoverished children will have nothing
to eat. Divorce and domestic abuse mean
that for some families, the season will be anything but jolly. The truth is that while we wish everyone would
have a very merry Christmas, a great many people will only suffer through the
season.
Like most pastors, I try to remind my flock every year about
the reason for the season, namely that Christmas is a time to remember that God
came into the world as a human being so that He might become a Savior to all
people. But even these words ring hollow
in the ears of those who can’t find enough to eat or fix a life in shambles.
“Where’s the good news in a story about a man who died two thousand years ago?”
they ask.
I want you to remember something this holiday season: The
gospel should be good news to everybody. You can’t talk to the poor and the hungry
about the sweet-by-and-by while they’re suffering in the nasty here-and-now. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, “He anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor. He has
sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set free those who are oppressed…” He then proceeded to do the very things He
proclaimed. He healed the sick, restored
sight to the blind and fed the hungry. Before He talked to the people about how He
was the Bread of Life, Jesus took the time to feed thousands of people with a
few loaves and fishes. Jesus’ gospel is
both spiritual and tangible. For the
people who are hurting the most, the intensity of their present pain prevents
them from hearing about the future hope.
Christians are called to spread that gospel, which means not
only are we to tell the world the story of Jesus Christ, but we are to offer
care for the needy and oppressed along the way. We are to do our part in easing the burden of
the oppressed in our communities. As we
are able, we should assist in restoring broken relationships, and feeding the
hungry. While we should declare the
future hope of Christmas, we must also bring the present hope of the season to
those who need it most.
Here are a few practical ways we can live the good news of
Jesus and there are some activities planned that I want you to take note -
This Saturday at 12 noon we will meet at the church to move
some furniture. If anyone has a truck
that we could use to move some items to a new home please let us know. We have a surplus of desk in our offices and
if anyone would like to have one just contact me or Pastor Eva. If no one wants the desk we will move them to
the salvage yard.
Each month the Nazarene Church has a special emphasis for
missions. This month it is Nazarene
Compassionate Ministry (NCM) http://www.ncm.org/
and one great way to be involved is to sponsor a child for $30 per month. As a sponsor you will be involved in helping
a child receive an education and some medical attention. There is more information on the website and
our local missionary president Todd Hunter has some brochures with information
on the information desk at the church.
- Homeless Ministry
Outreach
The young adult small group is meeting on Saturday December 17th
at 10am in the Fellowship Hall to prepare some hot chocolate for the homeless
living downtown. They are also going to
distribute socks and gloves as well.
Anyone is welcome to join them in this ministry outreach. If you cannot go but would like to donate
some socks or gloves we will have a box in the entryway of the church to
collect those donations.
- Children’s Workers Needed
We have an immediate need for a Sunday school teacher/worker
in the nursery. If you would like to
help please see Stephanie Heer, Pastor Andy or Pastor Eva.
We need teachers/workers for our KinderChurch (ages 4, 5, and
6 years old).
We need teachers/workers for Children’s Church (ages 7-12 years
old)
This Sunday morning we will have guitarist David Smart sharing
with us a concert during our worship service.
David has been a teacher at Mid America Nazarene University and has taught
guitar many students.
- Children’s Christmas Program
Sunday morning December 18th our Children will be
sharing with us the story of Jesus’ birth.
There will be a piñata for the children following the church dinner. We need candy donations (chocolate and hard
candy) to be brought to the church by December 11th. There is a box in the entryway for those
donations.
- Holiday
Dinner Celebration
On Sunday December 18th after the Children’s
Christmas Program we will share a potluck meal at the Fellowship Hall, and
everyone is welcome. The church is providing
the meat (Turkey and Ham) and we are asking everyone else to sign-up to bring
side dishes. There is a sign-up sheet in
the entryway of the church. This is a great
time to invite your OIKOS, so bring some food to share and let’s celebrate!
We will have a Christmas communion service on Sunday December
25th 10am at the church. We
will not have Sunday school that morning but this is always a good time to
invite unchurched friends, family and neighbors (people on your OIKOS List).
- Church Pictoral Directory
You may not be aware that our church has a directory of our
church families with photos. Recently we
have seen several new families who want to make Eastridge their church home, so
we want to add you to our directory. I
will have my camera at church the next couple of Sundays if you would like to
have your photo added to the church directory just tell me or Pastor Eva.
I know I’m not a big fan of getting my photo taken but I think
this may help us get to know one another.
It should also help new people get connected quicker as they put names
to faces.
We have a Sunday school class for all ages. Our Sunday school classes begin at 9:45 am. Recently we added a class for young adults
which meet in the room in the back of the church sanctuary. Currently they doing a study on how to read
and study the Bible.
I am looking forward to celebrating with you this Christmas
season,
Pastor Andy
